Faculty of Arts & Science
Geography

Geography deals with some of the most exciting issues on earth. It studies the interaction between human beings and the global environment and the resulting problems and opportunities.

We, as human beings, are an intrinsic part of the global ecosystem. We are a powerful part of nature and create imbalances that can have global influence. Geography is also concerned with spatial analysis: the distribution characteristics or network structures of a wide variety of physical and human features on the earth's surface. It is from these concerns that Geographical Information Science (GIS) has emerged.

The Department of Geography at the University of Lethbridge is particularly strong in the area of GIS. This has become one of the most spectacular growth areas in research, teaching, and employment for graduates from our department. It is this continuing growth which encourages us to develop better courses and programs involving GIS.

We also offer one of the most balanced majors in Geography. Students have the opportunity to study in areas such as:

• Human Geography
• Physical Geography
• Archaeology
• Geology
• GIS/Remote Sensing

The Department of Geography hosts a GIS/remote sensing lab for teaching and student projects, as well as dedicated research and graduate student areas - all containing high-end computers. The Department has licenses for a wide range of software, including ESRI (ArcInfo, ArcView, Arc GIS), MapInfo, Vertical Mapper, and image analysis Software (ENVI and PCI). Facilities also include a large bed digitiser and a full-size (40-inch) colour plotter.

The Department of Geography has a very active presence on campus through its student club. Annually, for more than 20 years, this club has organized a trip during Reading Week to Death Valley.

Students in the Faculty of Arts and Science have a number of special opportunities available including:

• Co-operative Education
• Applied Studies
• Independent Studies
• Undergraduate thesis
• Participation in Conferences
• Co-authorship of papers/publications
• Involvement with professors on research projects

Graduates from this discipline have gone on to work in such positions as: community developer, remote sensing analyst, cartography compiler, map curator, natural resources specialist, demographer, environmental clean-up consultant, geophysics assistant, hydrologist, and facilities planner.